# Azure Key Vault vs Microsoft Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) Comparison

| | Azure Key Vault | Microsoft Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.5 out of 5 | 3.4 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 55 | 12 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Enterprise (47.8% of reviews) | Mid-Market (45.5% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | No pricing available | No pricing available | 


---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | Azure Key Vault | Microsoft Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 9.2 (37 reviews) | 8.1 (9 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 8.5 (40 reviews) | 8.1 (9 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 9.1 (16 reviews) | Not enough data | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 8.9 (14 reviews) | Not enough data | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 8.9 (36 reviews) | 8.9 (9 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 9.1 (13 reviews) | Not enough data | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 9.1 (38 reviews) | 6.5 (10 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### Azure Key Vault

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

### Microsoft Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS)

#### Entry-Level Pricing

No pricing available

#### Free Trial

No information available

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Encryption Key Management

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Azure Key Vault** | 8.9/10 | 19 |
| **Microsoft Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS)** | N/A | N/A |

#### Functionality

| Feature | Azure Key Vault | Microsoft Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) | 
|---|---|---|
| **Durability** | 9.1 (11 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Envelope Encryption** | 9.3 (9 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Automation** | 8.7 (9 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Availability

| Feature | Azure Key Vault | Microsoft Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) | 
|---|---|---|
| **API/Integrations** | 8.8 (10 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Service Integration** | 9.2 (10 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Regional Support** | 8.9 (11 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Scalability** | 8.9 (11 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Administration

| Feature | Azure Key Vault | Microsoft Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) | 
|---|---|---|
| **Auditing** | 8.7 (10 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Compliance** | 8.9 (12 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Management Console** | 8.9 (11 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### Certificate Lifecycle Management (CLM)

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Azure Key Vault** | 8.7/10 | 5 |
| **Microsoft Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS)** | 7.0/10 | 10 |

#### Functionality

| Feature | Azure Key Vault | Microsoft Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) | 
|---|---|---|
| **Certificate Discovery** | 8.7 (5 reviews) | 6.5 (8 reviews) | 
| **Expiration Monitoring** | 8.3 (5 reviews) | 7.7 (8 reviews) | 
| **Automated Certificate Operations** | 8.0 (5 reviews) | 7.3 (8 reviews) | 
| **Policy And Role-Based Access Controls** | 9.7 (5 reviews) | 6.9 (9 reviews) | 
| **Workflow** | 9.0 (5 reviews) | 7.0 (9 reviews) | 
| **Protocol Support** | Not enough data | 6.3 (9 reviews) | 
| **Reporting And Search** | Not enough data | 7.6 (7 reviews) | 
| **Audit And Enforcement** | Not enough data | 6.3 (9 reviews) | 
| **Key Storage** | 8.3 (5 reviews) | 7.2 (9 reviews) | 

### Secrets Management Tools

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Azure Key Vault** | 8.8/10 | 17 |
| **Microsoft Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS)** | N/A | N/A |

#### Functionality

| Feature | Azure Key Vault | Microsoft Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) | 
|---|---|---|
| **Audit trail** | 8.8 (11 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Cental dashboard** | 8.5 (13 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Universal approach** | 9.2 (14 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### Data Security

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Azure Key Vault** | N/A | N/A |
| **Microsoft Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS)** | N/A | N/A |

#### Compliance

| Feature | Azure Key Vault | Microsoft Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) | 
|---|---|---|
| **Access Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **At-Risk Analysis** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **DLP Configuration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Sensitive Data Compliance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Administration

| Feature | Azure Key Vault | Microsoft Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) | 
|---|---|---|
| **Database Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Deduplication ** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Backup** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **API / integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Security 

| Feature | Azure Key Vault | Microsoft Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) | 
|---|---|---|
| **Multi-Factor Authentication** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Transport** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Data Types** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Security Tools** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (1):** [Certificate Lifecycle Management (CLM) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/certificate-lifecycle-management-clm)

**Unique to Azure Key Vault (2):** [Encryption Key Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/encryption-key-management), [Secrets Management Tools](https://www.g2.com/categories/secrets-management-tools)



---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | Azure Key Vault | Microsoft Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 26.1% | 18.2% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 26.1% | 45.5% | 
| **Enterprise** | 47.8% | 36.4% | 

### By Industry

#### Azure Key Vault

- **Information Technology and Services:** 23.9%
- **Accounting:** 10.9%
- **Computer Software:** 10.9%
- **Education Management:** 6.5%
- **Architecture & Planning:** 4.3%
- **Banking:** 4.3%
- **Financial Services:** 4.3%
- **Insurance:** 4.3%
- **Hospitality:** 2.2%
- **Hospital & Health Care:** 2.2%
- **Other:** 26.1%

#### Microsoft Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS)

- **Information Technology and Services:** 18.2%
- **Manufacturing:** 9.1%
- **Market Research:** 9.1%
- **Leisure, Travel & Tourism:** 9.1%
- **Insurance:** 9.1%
- **Design:** 9.1%
- **Consumer Electronics:** 9.1%
- **Computer Software:** 9.1%
- **Computer & Network Security:** 9.1%
- **Banking:** 9.1%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to Azure Key Vault

- [IBM Vault (formerly HashiCorp Vault)](https://www.g2.com/products/ibm-vault-formerly-hashicorp-vault/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (47 reviews)
- [Keeper Password Manager](https://www.g2.com/products/keeper-password-manager/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (1196 reviews)
- [Akeyless Identity Security Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/akeyless-identity-security-platform/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (88 reviews)
- [Egnyte](https://www.g2.com/products/egnyte/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (1158 reviews)
- [AWS Certificate Manager](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-certificate-manager/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (58 reviews)
- [1Password](https://www.g2.com/products/1password/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (1791 reviews)
- [AWS Key Management Service (KMS)](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-key-management-service-kms/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (32 reviews)
- [Delinea Secret Server](https://www.g2.com/products/delinea-secret-server/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (43 reviews)
- [Virtru Email Encryption](https://www.g2.com/products/virtru-email-encryption/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (407 reviews)
- [Cloudflare Application Security and Performance](https://www.g2.com/products/cloudflare-application-security-and-performance/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (601 reviews)

### Alternatives to Microsoft Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS)

- [Cloudflare Application Security and Performance](https://www.g2.com/products/cloudflare-application-security-and-performance/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (601 reviews)
- [Sectigo Certificate Manager](https://www.g2.com/products/sectigo-certificate-manager/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (184 reviews)
- [Keyfactor EJBCA®](https://www.g2.com/products/keyfactor-ejbca/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (36 reviews)
- [Keyfactor Command](https://www.g2.com/products/keyfactor-command/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (83 reviews)
- [SecureW2 JoinNow](https://www.g2.com/products/securew2-joinnow/reviews) — 4.7/5 stars (96 reviews)
- [Akeyless Identity Security Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/akeyless-identity-security-platform/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (88 reviews)
- [AWS Certificate Manager](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-certificate-manager/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (58 reviews)
- [DigiCert CertCentral](https://www.g2.com/products/digicert-certcentral/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (34 reviews)
- [Segura 360° Privilege Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/segura-360-privilege-platform/reviews) — 4.8/5 stars (74 reviews)
- [Foxpass by Splashtop](https://www.g2.com/products/foxpass-by-splashtop/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (60 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### Azure Key Vault

- Title: [Try to add other monitor tool which will help to manage our keys](https://www.g2.com/discussions/30365-try-to-add-other-monitor-tool-which-will-help-to-manage-our-keys) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "You can try Cipertrust Cloud Key Manager(CCKM) from Thales Vormetric"

### Microsoft Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS)

No discussions available for this product.

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/azure-key-vault-vs-microsoft-active-directory-certificate-services-ad-cs)